Steel side rail and bedfast for wood beds



April 19, 1955 i E. F. HOOKER STEEL SIDE RAIL AND BEDFAST FOR WOOD BEDS Filed Jan. 21, 1952 Emerson E Hacker INVENTOR.

United States Patent STEEL SIDE RAIL AND BEDFAST FOR WOOD BEDS Emerson F. Hooker, Lexington, N. C.

Application January 21, 1952, Serial No. 267 ,369

13 Claims. (Cl. -296) This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a steel side rail and bedfast for wood beds and constitutes an improvement over my pending application Serial No. 112,383, filed August 25, 1949, now Patent No. 2,631,305, for Steel Side Rail for Wood Beds.

The primary purpose of this invention is to provide a bed rail construction which will combine the well known advantages of a steel construction with the popular and pleasing esthetic appearance of a wooden bed rail.

The more specific important object of this invention is to improve the construction of a steel bed rail while retaining the same as light as possible and with a maximum conservation of material for the rail; to provide an improved construction of bedfast and manner of attaching same to the bed rail, and to improve the manufacture of a bed rail having the foregoing characteristics.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention, which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a portion of a bed rail and the various elements making up the bedfast of the same and for attaching the bedfast to the bed'rail;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of Figure 3 and showing in horizontal sectional view the assembled bed rail and bedfast therefor; and,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line '3-3 of Figure 2, showing the bed rail and bedfast assembly in vertical sectional view.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views, it will be seen that the numeral designates generally a portion of a bed rail which by means of a bedfast of a construction to be set forth hereinafter, is detachably secured to a conventional bed post 12.

The bed rail 10 is-preferably made of a single sheet or strip of metal, the sheet having a flat vertical web portion 14 whose opposite horizontal longitudinal marginal edges are rolled over upon themselves to provide upper and lower beads. 16 and 18 respectively. These beads have horizontally disposed parallel inturned portions 20 and 22 respectively, which at their inturned ends are provided with perpendicular flanges 24 and 26 which abut against the web portion 14 and are spot welded for rigid attachment thereto. The upper and lower beads 16 and 18 are of the same dimensions to facilitate their manufacture by the same die operation.

An angle iron member indicated generally by the numeral 28 is provided at each end of the bed rail 10. This angle iron member includes an elongated flat vertical plate 30 having its opposite upper and lower ends rounded as shown in Figure l, which is notched at one vertical side at 32 and has an integral perpendicularly disposed flat vertical plate 34 extending from this notch and perpendicular to the plate 30. The plate 30 is adapted to abut the end of the rail 10 with the rounded opposite end portions thereof beng curved to conform to the contour of the rounded beads 16 and 18. When properly placed, the plate 30 will close the open ends of the two beads 16 and 18 and be spot welded thereto to form a rigid assembly therewith. The perpendicularly disposed "lee plate 34 is adapted to overlie the two flanges 24 and 26, as shown in Figure 3, for spot welding thereto. Thus, the closure plates 30 with their perpendicular plate extensions 34 are rigidly secured to the ends of the bed rail and serve to greatly strengthen and reinforce the same.

In addition to the perpendicular plate 34, the end plate 30 is provided with an elongated vertical slot 36. This slot is adapted to receive a portion of the bedfast indicated generally by the numeral 38. The bedfast consists of a pair of perpendicular vertical plates 40 and 42, the former being provided with hooks 44 which are adapted to be received in the customary bedfast receiving slot 46 of the bedpost 12, see Figure 2, and to engage over the fastening pin 48 disposed transversely of that slot. The perpendicular vertical plate 42 however is adapted to be inserted'in and extended through the slot36 and to then he in overlapping relation upon the'inside'surface of the plate 30, as shown in Figure 2, and to be welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereto. A reinforc-' ing angle iron bracket 47 is provided having its perpendicular vertical walls disposed flatly against and welded to the vertical plates 42 and 34. This bracket serves to brace and rigidify the end portion of the bed rail assembly and the attachment of the bedfast thereto.

As so far described, a very sturdy and simplified construction has been provided for securing the bedfast to the bed rail, and reinforcing the ends of the latter and the connection of the bedfast thereto. in some instances this construction as described may be found to be sufficient. However, in other instances, the plate 34 may be of a vertical height equal to the distance between the adjacent horizontal edges of the two flanges 24 and 26, whereby the plate 34 may fit snugly between the flanges and in direct flat engagement with the web portion 14 ofthe bed rail.

However, where a still further strengthened structure is desired, an auxiliary or reinforcing plate 50 may be provided of suflicient size to fit between the adjacent edges of the flanges 24 and 26, as shown in Figure 3, and of the same thickness of those flanges. This plate 50 will thus directly engage the vertical web 14 and the adjacent surface of the plate 34, as well as the two flanges 24 and 26. The plate 50 may be spot welded to any or all of these members to thus provide a rigid and sturdy construction, the same being illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

It will of course be understood that the plate 50 may optionally be omitted, leaving the plate 34 either overlapping the flanges 24 and 26, or disposed therebetween as previously mentioned;

In some instances, the plate 50 may be formed integrally with the plate 34, whereby the plate 50 will be received between the flanges 24 and 26, while the plate 34 overlies the same. I v

It should be particularly noted, that the slot 36 is offset from the medial longitudinal center line of the plate 30, whereby 'the bedfast plate 40 willbe offset from the center of the bed rail 10 as shown in Figure '2. "This arrangement permits a corner rib 52 of the angle iron member 47 to be pressed between the angleportion of the bedfast 38 and the angle portion of the member 28, as shown in Figure 2, to assist in tightly pressing the plate 40 against the side of the slot 36. This construction thus serves to assist in properly positioning the parts for the welding operation, as well as provides an abutting engagement forfurther rigidifying and strengthening the assembled bed rail end construction.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new 1. A bed rail assembly comprising a bed rail, an end plate secured to and abutting the end of said bed rail and having a slot therein, said end plate having a perpendicularly extending plate lying upon and secured to the inner surface of the side of said bed rail, a bedfast comprising an angle iron member having a pair of perpendicular flanges one of which extends from the end plate and bed rail for engagement in a bed post and extends through said slot, the other flange lying fiat against and being secured to the inner side of the end plate.

2. A bed rail assembly comprising a bed rail, an end plate secured to the end of said bed rail and having a slot therein, said end plate having a perpendicularly extending plate lying upon and secured to the side of said bed rail, a bedfast comprising an angle iron member having a pair of perpendicular flanges one of which extends from the end plate and bed rail for engagement in a bed post and extends through said slot, the other flange lying flat against and being secured to the inner side of the end plate, a reinforcing angle iron bracket having a pair of plate like legs which respectively engage said other of said perpendicular flanges and said perpendicularly extending plate.

3. An all metal bed rail assembly comprising a unitary bed rail consisting of a flat elongated metal strip having a vertical medial longitudinal portion having its longitudinal edges folded over to form tubular top and bottom beads, said beads having flat parallel portions opposed to each other and extending laterally from the medial longitudinal portion of the strip, a bedfast, an end plate secured to the bedfast and to the bed rail and closing the end of said tubular beads, said end plate being welded to said medial longitudinal portion and said tubular beads of said strip.

'4. An all metal bed rail assembly comprising a unitary bed rail consisting of a flat elongated metal strip having its longitudinal edges folded over to form tubular top and bottom beads, said beads having flat parallel portions opposed to each other and extending laterally from the medial longitudinal portion of the strip, a bedfast, an end plate secured to the bedfast and to the bed rail and closing the end of said tubular beads, said end plate being welded to said medial longitudinal portion and said tubular beads of said strip, said flat parallel portions having flanged edges lying against and welded to said medial longitudinal portion.

5. An all metal bed rail assembly comprising a unitary bed rail consisting of a flat elongated metal strip having its longitudinal edges folded over to form tubular top and bottom beads, said beads having flat parallel portions opposed to each other and extending laterally from the medial longitudinal portion of the strip, a bedfast, an end plate secured to the bedfast and to the bed rail and closing the end of said tubular beads, said end plate being welded to said medial longitudinal portion and said tubular beads of said strip, said end plate having a projection lying against and secured to said medial longitudinal portion.

6. An all metal bed rail assembly comprising a unitary bed rail consisting of a flat elongated metal strip having its longitudinal edges folded over to form tubular top and bottom beads, said beads having flat parallel por tions opposed to each other and extending laterally from the medial longitudinal portion of the strip, a bedfast, an end plate secured to the bedfast and to the bed rail and closing the end of said tubular beads, said end plate being welded to said medial longitudinal portion and said tubular beads of said strip, said end plate having a projection disposed in spaced parallel relation to said medial longitudinal portion and secured to said bed rail.

7. An all metal bed rail assembly comprising a unitary bed rail consisting of a flat elongated metal strip having its longitudinal edges folded over to form tubular top and bottom beads, said beads having flat parallel portions opposed to each other and extending laterally from the medial longitudinal portion of the strip, a bedfast, an end plate secured to the bedfast and to the bed rail and clos ing the end of said tubular beads, said end plate being welded to said medial longitudinal portion and said tubular beads of said strip, said end plate having a projection disposed in spaced parallel relation to said medial longitudinal portion and secured to said bed rail, a spacer plate positioned between, contacting, and secured to each of said projection and said medial longitudinal portion.

8. An all metal bed rail assembly comprising a unitary bed rail consisting of a flat elongated metal strip having its longitudinal edges folded over to form tubular top and bottom beads, said beads having flat parallel portions opposed to each other and extending laterally from the medial longitudinal portion of the strip, a bedfast, an end plate secured to the bedfast and to the bed rail and closing the end of said tubular beads, said end plate being welded to said medial longitudinal portion and said tubular beads of said strip, said flat parallel portions having flanged edges lying against and welded to said medial longitudinal portion, said end plate having a projection lying against and secured to each of said flanged edges.

9. An all metal bed rail assembly comprising a unitary bed rail consisting of a flat elongated metal strip having its longitudinal edges folded over to form tubular top and bottom beads, said beads having flat parallel portions opposed to each other and extending laterally from the medial longitudinal portion of the strip, a bedfast, an end plate secured to the bedfast and to the bed rail and closing the end of said tubular beads, said end plate being welded to' said medial longitudinal portion and said tubular beads of said strip, said flat parallel portions having flanged edges lying against and welded to said medial longitudinal portion, said end plate having a projection lying against and secured to each of said flanged edges, a spacer plate positioned between and secured to each of said projection, said medial longitudinal portion and said flanged edges.

10. A rigid metallic bed rail assembly comprising a flat bed rail, tubular beads at the top and bottom edges of said rail, an L-shaped member having a first leg secured to the ends of said bed rail and beads and a second leg secured to said flat rail, a bedfast secured to said L-shaped member and displaced from the longitudinal medial line thereof.

11. A rigid metallic bed rail assembly comprising a flat bed rail, tubular beads at the top and bottom edges, of said rail, an L-shaped member having a first leg secured to the ends of said bed rail and beads and a second leg secured to said flat rail, a bedfast secured to said L-shaped member and displaced from the longitudinal medial line thereof, said first leg having a slot, said bedfast comprising an L-shaped bracket having a first flange extending longitudinally from said first leg and bed rail, and a second flange received through said slot and disposed flat against and secured to said second leg.

12. A rigid metallic bed rail assembly comprising a flat bed rail, tubular beads at the top and bottom edges of said rail, an L'shaped member having a first leg secured to the ends of said bed rail and beads and a second leg secured to said flat rail, a bedfast secured to said L-shaped member and displaced from the longitudinal medial line thereof, an L-shaped brace having perpendicular plates lying flat against and secured to said second leg and said second flange.

13. The combination of claim 1 wherein said angle iron member has one of its flanges snugly received and held in said slot against lateral movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 899,173 Linden Sept. 22, 1908 1,502,587 Priebatsch July 22, 1924 1,551,984 Dyke Sept. 1, 1925 1,695,962 Howse Dec. 18, 1928 2,311,111 Kelly Feb. 16, 1943 2,376,114 Bornhuetter May 15, 1945 2,602,939 Edelen July 15, 1952 

